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Thursday, August 31, 2017

10 THINGS I THINK I THINK FOR CAPITAL FORD

10 THINGS I THINK I THINK

1 - Miss The Riders? A lot has happened since the Saskatchewan Roughriders mollywhopped the Edmonton Eskimos 54-31 Friday night at Commonwealth Stadium. We'll get into that further down, but first the #1 question that needs to be asked is, "Have the Roughriders arrived?" It's tempting to say yes, but I'll reserve judgment until after Sunday's Labour Day Classic. Right now though, all signs suggest they have.

2 - The Riders are 2.5-point favourites over Winnipeg for Sunday's game. By my count, this will be the 51st LDC and Saskatchewan holds a 33-17 all-time advantage. However the Bombers snapped an 11-game LDC losing streak last year with a 28-25 last-second victory.

3 - Rider coach Chris Jones fumed on Monday's SportsCage on 620 CKRM that his team will again be forced out of Mosaic Stadium this week due to clean-up from Sunday's Guns N' Roses concert. It's one thing to have been forced out last week in advance of the show, but now to be sent packing until this Friday at the earliest? That seems unheard of.

4 - People are chortling around here that there's a lot of, "I believed in Jones all along!" or "I never doubted them for a second!" whatwith the club's current 2-game win streak (by a whopping 95-39 margin). Hey, we should be used to that by now. Go with the flow. Rider fans are irrationally fanatical about their team. Let's resist the temptation to say, "I told you so" (even if I did).

5 - I was shocked and appalled by the social media venom hurled my way over my non-stance on Monday's Art Briles story in Hamilton. (See the post below if you missed the hysteria). An NCAA football fan in Texas asked my opinion on Briles' hiring and I Tweeted, "None of my business". Then the floodgates opened with an ocean of poison. One lunatic called me a "rape enabler". Totally offensive and uncalled for.

6 - I have a long-standing policy of "What other teams do is their business" and I try my best to stick to that. This was the Ticats mess and had NOTHING to do with me (obviously). Since when did reserving judgment or minding your own business become a capital crime? I didn't cover anything up nor condone anything else. Please. Take the campaign elsewhere.

7 - As for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, they've done something no other football team has been able to do before: lose on a bye week.

Meanwhile our Commissioner continues to put the ROSE in Ambrosie.

8 - Sunday's Guns N' Roses concert was epic and although the sound wasn't great, it's always a treat to see the living legends perform in person. For the big shows that've come through Mosaic Stadiums, I'd rate them this way: 1) The Rolling Stones 2) AC/DC 3) Guns N' Roses 4) Paul McCartney 5) Bryan Adams 6) Bon Jovi. After that I have to ask, where's the country?

9 - As for Saturday's Mayweather/McGregor fight in Las Vegas, that was a treat too! I'd predicted McGregor would get knocked out in the 2nd round but the bout went until the 10th round when the Irishman simply got pooped out. But he certainly earned my respect. Thanks to the 4Seasons Sports Palace, Family Restaurant and Cold Beer Store for looking after us that night.

10 - The U of R Rams kickoff the Canada West season this Friday at home to the UBC Thunderbirds at Mosaic Stadium on 620 CKRM. There's A LOT to be excited about with The Horns this year, led by Coach of the Year Steve Bryce and the Picton cousins, Noah & Mitch.

Meanwhile it seems ridiculously early but the Regina Pats held their Blue & White Intrasquad game on Monday. The Whites beat the Blues 3-1 while hyped rookie phenom Ty Smilanic didn't really stand out. Perhaps that's not surprising since the 15-year old was matched up against the vets Monday night, some of whom were 20-years old. The Pats are home to Saskatoon on Thursday!

I realize it's popular for some in this province to parrot a certain talk-radio host and call out the so-called "social justice warriors" (SJWs), but if you really believe that Art Briles is someone worth defending, then I suggest you either Google what happened at Baylor or seriously question what your moral/ethical standards are. On his watch as head coach at Baylor, his players were accused of 52 - 52!!! - incidents of sexual assault. At best, he turned a blind eye to this, at worst, he actively covered it up. Either way, he was eventually fired for failure to execute his duty as a head coach and leader of these players. You may want to direct your anti-SJW campaign elsewhere.

Is this really someone you're comfortable having associated with the CFL? Do you really think the bar should be so low as "well, he was never criminally charged or convicted"? Should not the league, and its fans, have a higher moral and ethical standard than that?

I hope that "mind your own business" attitude isn't in effect at all times. While there is no real comparison to the Briles hiring, much of what happened in Rwanda could have been prevented if the international community wasn't "minding their own business." I can think of several other examples where "minding your own business" is the wrong stance whether or not it is a crime. But maybe you are right, there is no life or death situation here, just principles.LF

Sorry, Rod. Don't agree at all about your "neutral" stance. Elie Wiesel said, “We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim." If you are neutral in cases of injustice, you have ultimately sided with the oppressor. It's important to always speak up, especially these days when there are so many horrendous things happening. Society can't afford silence, especially from a public figure like yourself who can really make a difference. It doesn't matter that you are a "sports" guy. People care what you think/say and they listen to you. You have to take those opportunities to promote equality and justice.

Unfortunately in today's social media jungle, you are attacked regardless of your personal opinion! Best to keep that opinion to yourself! I would like to go on Facebook and give the opinion my sister-in-law is fat and ugly....I just don't!

Pedersen your bang on in your concert reviews I guess your not as clueless as I thought. Hey why don't you start a rock n roll review blog.. I agree tho been to the two concerts at new mosaic and gotta say the sounds pretty awful. I bet it would sound a lot better if they put the stage at the other end that's not gonna happen tho all the seats are there..O well I guess it was built for football..